Cohen's withdrawal as Lt. Gov. candidate official

Scott Lee Cohen's letter withdrawing his nomination as Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor was received today by state election officials.

Dan White, executive director for the Illinois State Board of Election, said the letter was dropped off this morning at the state offices.

Cohen had handed the letter to an attorney for state Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan on Friday with the intent that they would submit the resignation letter when government offices opened today.

White said with the withdrawal papers now in hand, Cohen will be officially removed as the Democratic nominee when the election results are certified, which is scheduled for March 5. Democratic Party leaders have yet to formalize their plans for picking a replacement for the November general election.